Renowned Alabama Athletics Leader Kennith Blankenship Passes Away at 88

Kennith Blankenship, the pioneering executive director of the Alabama High School Athletic Directors & Coaches Association (AHSADCA) and the Bryant-Jordan Student-Athlete Scholarship Program, passed away on Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 88 years old.

According to a statement from the Alabama High School Athletic Association (AHSAA), Blankenship's remarkable athletic journey began at Wetumpka High School, where he excelled in football, basketball, baseball, and track, serving as captain of all four teams in his senior year, 1954. After high school, he served in the U.S. Army from 1954 to 1956, where he was part of the 101st Airborne and 8th Infantry Division. Blankenship then attended Troy State University, playing both football and basketball until a knee injury ended his athletic career. He earned his bachelor's degree in education in 1959, a master's in 1961, and completed his doctorate in education in 1977.

Blankenship began his coaching career at Shorter High in Macon County in 1959. In 1961, he moved to A.G. Parrish High in Selma, serving as athletic director, head football coach, and track coach until 1966. He then spent 23 years at the Alabama State Department of Education, holding various leadership roles in health and physical education. Additionally, he officiated college basketball for 20 years and high school and college track events for 30 years. As the athletic director at Troy University, he oversaw the school’s transition to Division I-A.

As the first executive director of the AHSADCA, Blankenship was instrumental in establishing the Alabama High School All-Star Sports Week and played a significant role in creating the AHSAA Sports Hall of Fame. From 1989 to 2010, he served as the first executive director of the Bryant-Jordan program.

“Mr. Blankenship and his wife Betty Joy have been pillars of the AHSAA community,” said retiring AHSAA Executive Director Alvin Briggs. “His leadership has profoundly impacted our student-athletes. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his wife Betty Joy.”

Incoming AHSAA executive director Heath Harmon added, “Dr. Blankenship's mentorship has inspired countless individuals to pursue careers in coaching and teaching. His legacy will live on through those he has influenced.”

Former AHSAA executive director Steve Savarese echoed these sentiments, saying, “Dr. Ken Blankenship was a remarkable individual whose numerous achievements, including the Bryant-Jordan Scholarship Program and the AHSADCA All-Star Sports Week, have positively impacted many lives. His leadership exemplified integrity, and I am deeply grateful for his contributions to our association and for the personal lessons he imparted to me.”

Blankenship was inducted into the Alabama High School Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He received the prestigious Citation Award from the National Federation of State High School Associations, chaired the Central Alabama Sports Commission, served on the International Olympic Educational Committee, and represented the United States at the 1980 Olympic Training Session in Olympia, Greece. In recognition of his contributions, the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame board named him Distinguished Alabama Sportsman, an honor awarded to only 20 individuals since the Hall of Fame’s inception in 1969.

A memorial service for Kennith Blankenship will be held on July 29 at the First United Methodist Church of Montgomery, located at 2416 West Cloverdale Park. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m., followed by the service at 11 a.m.